Gas-generator



(Hommel.) T HENDERSON 8v W. A. STAP?.

GAS GENERATOR.

llniTEn STATES PATENT @Erica THOMAS I'I'ENDERSON AND XVILLIAM A. STAPP, OF TYLER, TEXAS.

GASfGENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 551,546, dated December 17, 1895.

Application tiled May 15, 1895. Serial No. 549,452. (No model.)

To all 1071/0171/ t may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS HENDER- soN and WILLIAM A. STAPP, of Tyler, Smith county, Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Oil-Gas Generators, of which the'following` is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs,iu which- .Figure 1 Vis a sectional side elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the automatic cut-oil mechanism, which con trois the flow of oilto the burner and retort or generator. Fig. is a detail showing the air-injecting mechanism. y

Our invention relates to that class of apparatus in which kerosene or crude petroleum is converted by heat into a gas for heatingl or illuminating purposes and stored in a suitable gasolnetcr or tank.

The object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which will be .entirely automatic in its action so long` as the supply of oil is kept up and thereby render the use of weights and winding apparatus unnecessary; also to render the apparatus simple and compact, so as not to be liable to get out oi' order.

The invention will be iirst described and then spcciiically pointed out in the claims.

A represents a platform mounted on suitable supports A', connected by cross-braces A2, these braces being connected at their point of intersection by a cruciform union A3 having' an aperture c/f for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

B is the oil tank or reservoir mounted on the platform A and havingt a suitable 'lillingf openingl B" at one side. rlhe top of the oil tank B forms the bottom ot the gas-tank C, which is filled with water, as usual, in which is sealed the bell C which forms the upper portion of the said gas-tank, the said bell being adapted to rise and fall as the pressure of gas increases and decreases respectively. The bell is guided in its vertical movement by means of the parallel rods c C, which are secured at their upper ends to ears d c' pro jecting,` from opposite sides of the upper end ofthe bell and extend down outside of the tank to a point below the plat-form A, where they are connected by a cross-piece c? provided with a central depending guide-rod c3, which passes through the guide-aperture ci;

before described and is provided at its lower end with one or more weights. The rods c c are guided in the ears c4 c4 on the tank C.

The gas-tank C is connected just above its water-level wit-h the oil-tank below the oillevel by means of a pipe C2, which will conduct back into the oil-tank any oil resulting 'from condensation and floating on top of the water, and a cooling-coil C3 connects the top of the oil-tank with the top of the gas-tank so that the heated gas which passes over the oil and up through the coil C3 will be cooled before it reaches the upper part of the gastank, as will be readily seen.

D is the generator proper, in which the oil is converted or generated into gas and conveyed into the upper part oit the oil-tank B, as will presently appear. This genera-tor comprises an outer casing D', having airinlets d around-its upper end, a door d' at its lower end, a central chimney D'2 on top and a conical jacket D3, registerine,` at its apex withthe lower eudofthe chimney and spaced at its lower open end or base away from the casing D, so as to allow the air to pas-s down into the lower end of the casing. lVithin the conical jacket are arranged two retorts E F, formed of coiled tubes orpipes, the upper gasgcnerating retort or coil E being connected at its lower end by a pipe E with the lower end of the oil-tank 13, so as to be supplied with oil therefrom, and said gas-generating retort or coil is connected at its upper end with the upper end of the oil-tank above the oil-level by means of the vapor or gas pipe The lower end ofthe vapor or gas pipe is provided with a tar-trap E3, provided at its lower end with a cock c3, adapted to discharge the tar accumulating therein into any suitable receptacle. The vapor or pipe E2 adjacent to where it enters the oil-tank B is provided with an air-injector El, into which discharges the lower end of one arm of airinlct pipe E5, the other depending arm of saidpipe being` provided with a mercury-cup c5, having` a valve-seat e, over which iits the light aluminum valve E in the form of an inverted cup. The lower edge of this valve is sealed in the mercury and the valve-stem extends down through the short open-ended tube, which forms the valve-seat. The flow of gas through the pipc E2 will cause the in- IDO jector to draw air through pipe E5, the suction causing' valve E to be raised; but when the flow of gas through pipe lig ceases then the baclepressure will firm] y close valve E The burner coil or retort F is provided with any suitable form of hydrocarbon-burner F2 directly under it. rThe burner is provided with avalved pipe Fi", in which collects any heavy distillates or residue which may be drawn off from time to time.

G is the gas-pipe for conveying the gas from the tank to different parts of a building. This pipe G extends from the upper part of the gas-tank down into the oil-space within the oiltanl: and has a lateral branch G eX- tending out therefrom above the oil-level, so that any oil of condensation in the gas-pipe will be returned to the oil-tank. The branch pipe G istapped by a smaller pipe G2, which The two Oilpipes lvl F are provided with valves E4 F4 at opposite sides of one of the guide-rods c, and said valves are provided with crank-arms e* f4, respectively. These crank-arms are operated automatically by the rise and fall of the bell C by our improved automatic cut-off or regulating mechanism, which is constructed as follows:

ll is an approximately' diamond shaped cam, secured to the said guide-rod c, the two upper sides 7l 7l of which cam are of the same length, while the lower sides 7a2 h3 are of unequal lengths, the side 7L:x being the shorter and connected to the upper side 71 by a straight portion to obviate ya break. At opposite sides of this cam ll are two centrallypivotcd levers J J, which are mounted on short posts jj projecting from the gas-tank C and each provided with a counter balance or weight J2 above its axis. The upper ends of these levers J J are provided with transverse pins or projections jjs, which engage the upper sides 71 7L of Athe cam Il, while the lower ends of said levers are provided with similar pins or projectionsj'tj", which in their turn engage the lower sides 7F 7L* 0i' the said cam.

K K are segments or bell-cranks pivoted on the postsjj in front et' the levers J J and are each provided with two pins K K2 and K3 K", respectively, which lie in the path of the said levers so as to be struck thereby in the two movements thereof, as will presently appear. The adjacent ends of these pivoted segments or bell-crank levers are connected with the respective valve-arms or cranks @4j/"4 by means ot connecting-rods 754 The parts being in the position shown in full lines in the drawings, the operation is as follows: The gas at jet G3 is ignited and in turn will light the burner F3, it being understood that the valves ll" Fl are now open to admit oil to the gas generating and burner coils or ret-Orts E F. The flame from the burner will heat the coil or retort F so that the oil supplied to the burner will be vaporized, and this burning vaporized iluid will soon raise the temperature of the gas-gener ating coil E to a red heat, which will rapidly convert the oil supplied thereto through pipe E into gas, which passes up through pipe lili into the oil-reservoir B, where it is enriched in passing over the upper surface ot' the oil therein, air being admitted through pipe From the oil-reservoir B the gas passes up through the cooling-coil C3 into the bell t", from which. it is drawn through pipe G G. As the gas-tank fills, its bell C rises and this causes the cam ll to move upwardly with the `guide-rod c, the upper sides 7L 7l. gradually forcing the upper ends of the levers J J outward till the pins reach the lower ends of said sides 7L 7L. At this time the gas-tank will have bec-ome full of gas, so that the supply must cease, and just at this moment the levers J J will have been forced outward past the center of gravity and their weights will suddenly throw their upper ends outward, causing said levers to strike the outer pins K Ks of the bell-cranks or segmental levers K K and rock said levers, causing them to pull upward on rods 7. 7J", thereby closing both valves E* FL3 and cutting oft' the supply of oil to the generator and burner coils or retorts E F. The eut-off mechanism will now be in the position shovm in dotted lines, Fig. Q-that is to say, the position of the levers .l J and bell cranks K K will be reversed, the lower ends of said levers now engaging the lower ends of the sides 7L2 7i3 of the cam ll and the said parts will remain in this position until the gas is being used from pipe G. As the pressure decreases in the gas-tank, the bell C begins to descend, and when it reaches a predetermined point the upper end of the side 7a3 of cam Il will have caused the lever J to tilt and reverse, thereby striking the pin K4, causing it to rock bell-crank or segment K and opening the valve F4 to supply oil to the burner and its coil, which will be at once lighted from jet G3 to heat the gas-generatiimI retort or coil E, and as the bell continues to descend the upper end of the side 7a2 of cam li will cause the lever J to tilt and reverse` thereby striking the pin K of the segment or bell-crank and causing it to pull on rod 754 and open the valve El to admit oil to the gasgenerating retort or coil E, where it will be immediately vaporized and conducted to the gas-tank to again raise the bell. Thus the operation will continue in a perfectly-automatic manner. The apparatus therefore onl y requires occasional inspection, as no weights or other setting mechanisms have to be wound.

The burner being confined in a closed casing, there can be no danger from tire, and the two retorts or coils being confined one above the other in the conical jacket may be heated at a very small outlay.

Having thus described our invention, what is claimed is-- l. In a gas generator, the combination with the gas tank having a bell and a gas generatlCO ing ret-ort having a valved oil supply, of a vertical rod carried by the bell and provided with a cam having upper and lower inclines, and a centrally pivoted vertically rocking eounterbalanced lever the ends of which are adapted to alternately engage the respective inclines for reversing said lever, and mechanvism in the path of said lever for operation in opposite directions thereby and connected with the oil pipe valve for opening and closing the same, substantially as set forth.

2. ln a gas generator the combination with the gas tank having a bell, a gas generating retort having a valved oil supply and a pipe connecting it with the gas tank and a burner also having a valved supply pipe, of a vertical rod carried by the bell and provided with an approximately diamond sha-pe cam, centrally pivoted vertically rocking counterbalanced levers at opposite sides of the cam to alternately engage the upper and lower inclines at the opposite sides of the cam with their opposite ends and be reversed thereby, and mechanisms in the paths of said two levers for operation thereby in opposite directions and in turn connected with the valves of the gas generator and burner supply pipes, substantially as set forth.

S. In a gas generator, the combination with the gas tank having a bell and a gas generating retort having a valved oil supply, and a pipe leading from the said retort to the gas tank, of a vertical rod carried by the bell and provided with a cam having an upper and a lower inclined side a centrally pivoted roeking lever the ends of which are adapted to alternately engage the respective inclines, a bell crank or segment having two pins between which said lever works to throw said bell crank in opposite directions and a rod connecting the bell crank or segment with said valve for opening and closing the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

e. The combination with the rod having the four sided cam and means for raising and lowering the rod, of tilting levers at opposite sides of the cam and adapted to be overhalanced b y the cam in its upward movement to cause their lower ends to engage the two lower sides thereof and the downward movement of the cam serving to reverse the said levers, bell cranks or segments having pins or lugs projecting at opposite sides ot' the levers in the paths thereof and connecting rods leading from the bell cranks or segments to the valves to be operated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination. with the rod having a four-sided cam, one of the lower sides being shorter than the other, and means for raising and lowering the rod, of the centrally pivoted levers at opposite sides of the cam with their opposite ends adapted to alternately engage said cam as it is moved up and down to overbalance or reverse the positions of said levers, bell cranks or segments, pivoting on the lever axes and having pins or lugs at opposite sides of said levers and in the paths thereof for rocking the bell cranks or levers in opposite directions, and rods for connecting said bell cranks or segments with the valves; the lever acted on by the short side of the cam being thereby actuated in adv ance of the other lever, substantially as an d for the pun pose set forth.

G. ln a gas apparatus the generating` meehanism comprising the outer casing apertured near its upper en d, a conical open ended jacket Within and of a less height than the casing, spaced therefrom at its lower open end and registering at its upper end with the chimney or ottake, the gas generating coil or retort in the said jacket, and having an oil supply pipe and a gas ot'take pipe, the burner retort or coil in the lower end of the jacket under the first named coil or retort and having an oil supply pipe leading into its upper end and a burner at its lower end for heating both coils or retorts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'7. The combination of a gas tank and a bell, of guide rods depending from the bell and having a cross bar uniting their lower ends beneath the tank, a rod depending from the cross bar and provided with a weight and guides for said guide rods, substantially as set forth.

S. ln a gas apparatus, the oil tank having a snperposed gas tank and a pipe for supplying the generator and a bell sealed in the li quid contained in the gas tank, in combination with a gas supply, pipe discharging into the oil tank above the oil level, a cooling coil extending from top of oil tank into the gas tank above the level of the fluid therein, a condensation pipe extending from the iiuid level of the gas tank donn into the oil tank, and a vertical gas ofttake pipe extending from within the bell down into the oil and provided with a distributing branch, substantially as set forth.

9. A gas apparatus comprising the oil tank, the superposed gas tank having a bell provided With a depending rod having a diamond or four sided cam, a pipe for conducting the gas from the tank, a generating mechanism below the said two tanks and comprising the generating retort and the burner two valved oil pipes extending dorm from the oil tank to the said retort and burner, a gas pipe for conducting the gas from the generating retort to the gas tank and having an air inlet, vertically rocking, centrally pivoted counterbalanced levers at opposite sides of the cam to be tilted and reversed end ior end thereby, and mechanisms in the paths oi said levers for reverse movements thereby and having rods connecting them with the valves in said two oil pipes, substantially as set forth.

l0. A gas apparatus comprising a gas tank having a bell sealed therein, an oil tank having a cooling pipe leading from above the oil space into the upper end ot the gas tank, a gas offt-ake or distribution pipe leading from IOO IIO

the gas tank, 2L gas genera-ting retort or coil, I ing mechanism Connecting the bell with the lo having a gas or vapor pipe leading into the oil reservoir above its oil level, a burner coil or retort under the gas retort and having ay burner for heatugboth coils or retorts, valved pipes leading; from the oll tank to the said two coils or generators, a branch gas pipe leading from the gas distribution pipe to a jet adjacent to said burner and a eut off or regulatsad two valves for automatically Closing them when the bell is raised and opening them when the bell is lowered.

THOS. HENDERSON. WILLIAM A. STAP?. Vtn esses:

H. A. MYER, J. HARVY STAP?. 

